Carrying mechanism for centrifugal concrete pipe machines



-GcL 4, 1932.

A. R. MCMULLJN GARRYNG MECHANISM FOR GENTRIFUGAL GCJNGRETE Pil-E Mr Filed Deo; 2r, 1951 ATTORNEY Patented y(lct. 4, 1932 y nire :n zummwmummmm-nr.

ALBERT B. MCMULLIN, F NEW YORK, N. Y. i

CARRYING MECHANISM FOR CENTRIFUGAL CONCRETE :PIPE MACHINES Application filed December 23, 1931. Serial No. 582,797.

This invention relates to improvements in bucket-carrying mechanism for centrifugal concrete pipe machines.

One of the objects of this invention is t0 improve the operating conditions which occur when the bucket in a concrete pipe making machine of the centrifugal type is employedr as the supporting element for the trowelling member by increasing` the stability and resistance to canting action developed by the bucket during such trowelling action, and also to improve the operating conditions encountered during the travel or traversing of the bucket-carrying carriage by so arranging the wheels of the carriage in relation to t-he rail members that the tracks on which the wheels run will be protected from concrete dropped from the bucket or splashed from the floor, which in machines employed prior to my invention often-interfered with the movement of the carriage.y causing jamming of the wheels, delay, eXtra work in cleaningyrand often necessitating stoppage of the machine.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the combination of members `and arrangement of'partsjso combined as to co-act and co--operate withl each other in the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated, and comprises in one of its adaptations the species or preferred form illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Y Fig. 1 is a viewin side elevation of a centrifugal concrete pipe making machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine n shown in Fig. l, and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrow.

Referring now to this drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 indicates a concrete base on which is suitably mounted rail members A comprising heavy -beams. Trleretofore the wheels of the carriage have travelled on the inside of the bottom flange,and concrete dropgo ping from the bucket or splashing from the .floor lodged on the wheel tracks and interfered with the movement of the carriage. By my invention, I provide spaced parallel rails having wheel channels A p-rovided with track-portions a comprising the outside bottom flanges of the rail members. These flanges are arranged on the outer sides of the webs a and arespaced from the upper out'- side flanges a2 a sufficient distance to permit a slight clearance above the front and rear wheels G and H which will enable traverse on such wheels of the carriage B for the bucket C. Said bucket is mounted centrally of the carriage and disposed centrally between vthe rails A and is overhung on the carriage to permit filling, in its ,out position, and insertion thereof into the mold F when in its intposition v As shown, the bucket C is rotatably mounted, to permit dumping, on a shaft S disposed along the longitudinal center of the carriage and rotatable in bearing yokes B-B2 of a width'greaterthan the space between the rail membersA. Said yokes extend across h the rail members A and have wheel mountf" ing portions on the outside of said rail members. The wheels are mounted on shafts b attached to and extending inwardly from said portions b, and suit-able mechanism M, forming no part of this invention is employed in turning the bucket in the dumping operation.

Said bucket is conventionally mounted with its center line eccentric to the aXis of the mold F and has mounted thereon a trowelling blade C which is employed for trowelling or compacting the concrete during the spinning of the mold and after the concrete dumped by the bucket has been so centrifuged in said mold which is spun by any suitable mechanism. As showml the mold is rotatably mounted on. wheels W mounted in trunnions t, the mold F being provided with circular tracks T and being rotated by a shaft Si turned from avmotor M through suitable transmission mechanism. As shown, motion is transmitted by gear g on the motor shaft meshing with gear g on shaft s on which is mounted 'one element of a transmission 100 mechanism comprising members g2 and g3 and motion is transmitted through these members to shaft s and thence by gear g3, chain g4 and gear g5 to shaft S.

rlhe bucket-carriage B with bucket C mounted thereon travels forward along rails or traeksaf-rom the outwposition where the front 4wheels gHtouch Athe Stoppers E. This travel or traverse is for the purpose of carrying concrete which has been taken into the bucket at the out position, tothe -interior of the mold I?. The concrete is dischargedfrom the bucket intothe mold when the carriage has reachedthe in7 position.

In performing this traverse, the carriage wheels travel along the outside bottom flanges of rails Aand since the ,wheels have'very little clearance betweenthe topand bottom flanges=of the rails,it isdesirable that the .wheel tracksfbe keptcleanand free-from` obstructing matter, and particularly from pieces orf-particles of concrete thatf-all from the bucket l,above said tracks. It will be understoodithat when particles of concrete or other matter get underlthe treadrofthe wheels, suchpartieles tend to raise the .wheels causing a jamming thereof againstthe top flanges of the rail members.

In machines of this type prior 4to lapplicantsinvention, the wheels ran, onthe inside flanges ofthe rails and concretedropping from the bucket, l concrete chutes f orY splashing from the fioor readilygot on=toethe wheel tracks and jammed the wheels, therebyinterferingwitlrmovement of the carriage,and by my'invention this trouble and diflicultyhas been eliminatedbecause the bucketibeing disposed in the middleofthe carriage,concrete dropping Ytherefrom ifalls in the lmiddle or lbetween lthe tracks, `and in Vso constructing the carriagethat the Awheels. travelY onthe outside :flangesofthe rails,the webs ofthe rails protect the wheels v and ,tracks from `such spilled,concreteandthere is little `likelihood of. concrete getting ontothe `railstoiobstruct the sameandcausing faulty operation, and this method of construction thus gives improvedloperating conditions.

It .will be understood also thatthe carriage in myimproved constructionmay bennade of `greater .width thereby increasing its stability and resistance .to canting stress .or `action which -is developed Vby the Abucket `when its trowelling operation is .being performed.

Aligning rollers r are r also `preferably mountedto rotatehorizontally on stub shafts r on the under side 4of the carriage -B and bear or Troll along the inner edge :of an inner top Aflange ias.

As many changes could be `made inthe above construction and many ,apparently ,widely different embodiments fof ,this inven- Ation could be made without departing from the scope thereof it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. Bucket-carrying mechanism for centrifugal concrete pipe-machines embodying, in combination, a pair of railmembers, each having extending outwardly therefrom wheel channels composed of a vertical web portion, an outwardly extending track portion, and an outwardly-extending top-member, a carriage traversable along said rails and having acbodyportion extending laterally across said rail members and provided with wheels mounted thereon to extend inwardly into said outwardly-disposed wheel channels, and a concrete bucket mounted on said carriage between said rails. c Y

2. Bucket-carrying mechanism" for centrifugal` concrete piper-machines embodying7 `in combination, a pair of rail members, -.each comprising avplural flanged lbeam andfhaving `extending .outwardly therefromV wheel channels composed of avertical .web portion,

anoutwardly extending bottoni-flange track portion, .and an outwardly-extendingftop* flange, a. carriage traversableV along. saidrails and having a body'portionrextending laterally yacross said rail members and provided with wheels mounted'thereonlto extendinwardly into vsaid outwardly-disposed wheel channels, and a concrete bucket [mounted on said carriage between saidrails. 3. Bucket-carrying,inechanismffor centrifugal concrete pipe-machines embodying, 1in combination, a pair of ,rail members,1eac`h comprising a plural flanged beamandhaving .extending outwardly therefrom wheel ,channels composed of an outwardly extending bottom-flange track portion, a vertical web portion and an outwardly extending top flange, a carriage traversablealong saidrails and having a body portion 'including A,yokes extending laterally acrosssaid rail members and having mounted therein between the side -edgesthereof a rotating shaft,.and a concrete bucket mounted on said shaft and located between said rails.

In witness whereof, 'Ihave signed mylna'me to the .foregoing specification.

ALBERT R. MGMULLIN.

Utl O ISO 

